NRA vs. Republicans? Unexpected battle shaping up after Parkland high school shooting

As politicians discuss gun reform measures in Tallahassee and Washington after a mass shooting in Parkland, the National Rifle Association's influence looms.

The organization opposes multiple measures being suggested by Republican lawmakers, from raising the age requirement to purchase long guns, to adding waiting periods for rifle purchases.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott, an NRA member who has received praise from the organization in the past, said he did not consult with the group before releasing his suggestions Friday.

“I am an NRA member, I support the Second Amendment. I’m sure there will be NRA members who agree with me, and NRA members that don’t agree with me,” said Scott. “That’s pretty much true with everything I do.”

Senate President-designate Bill Galvano said there's a lot of misleading information about the NRA's influence on Florida politics.

"They do have a presence in the state, and they represent a lot of lawful citizens who want to protect their rights," Galvano told reporters Thursday. "But at the end of the day, it's not about who is trying to influence what. It's about what we can do for the victims and families."

Money and pressure

The NRA often throws money into national races, but typically doesn't donate to Florida state Legislature races.

Since 2010, the organization's Florida PAC has reported about $3.4 million worth of expenditures. Almost all of it goes toward direct advertising to voters.

The group typically supports Republican candidates, but the state's political victory fund has supported more gun-friendly Democrats in primaries.

Only $10,000 has been donated directly to politicians since 2010, a single donation to the Senate Majority PAC in February of that year.

But the NRA curries favor from Florida politicians through different ways: political pressure.

Marion Hammer, a longtime lobbyist for the organization and former director, is arguably one of the most powerful people in the state. She regularly contacts Republican lawmakers to vote down gun control measures, and they often comply.

In an email to NRA members Thursday, she called gun-reform policies being hammered out by lawmakers "an organized effort to bully legislators into passing legislation to hijack your Second Amendment rights."

She also urged them to contact legislators to oppose waiting periods on long guns, raising age limits on long guns and bump stock bans, among other issues.

Here's how much Florida's most powerful lawmakers have received from the NRA:

Sen. Marco Rubio (R)

In 2016, the National Rifle Association's political action committee donated $9,900 to Rubio's Senate campaign — $500 short of the maximum amount they could donate.

Florida Senate President Joe Negron (R-Stuart)

Negron has received some support from the NRA for several years. He received a 100 percent rating from the organization at the end of last year and has been endorsed by the group in past campaigns.

Treasure Coast Alliance, a political action committee associated with Negron, has not received a donation from the NRA since it was launched in 2013, according to elections records on the PAC's website.

Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran (R-Land O' Lakes)

Corcoran has been endorsed by the NRA in prior campaigns. At the end of last year, the group gave him 93 percent rating.

Watchdog PAC, a a political action committee associated with Corcoran, has never received a donation from the NRA, according to data from the Division of Elections.